Ash-sifting shovel



P. J. McCULLOCH- ASH SIFTING suovu. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1922.

Patented Nov. 21, 1922;-

. 3f 2 26 an A TT' M EK Patented Nov. 21, 19 221.

Uldillf F.

PETER JOHN MCCULLOCH, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

ASH-SIFTING SHOVEL.

Application filed June 2, 1922. Serial No. 565,408.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PETER JoHN MoCUL- LOOH, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Orange, county of Essex, and State of 'New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ash-sifting Shovels, set forth in the following specification.

The object of my invention is to provide improved means for screening dust and ashes from partly consumed coal, and for such other uses as a device of the character described may be put. It is constructed of a size and shape for convenient insertion into the ash pit of the ordinary coal range, where the ashes and partly consumed coal may be gathered up and shaken by a longitudinal agitation of the shovel, and the dust and ashes separated from the coal, which may then be removed and dumped either in the firebox of the rangeor into a convenient receptacle therefor.

Another object of the "invention is to form the body of the shovel of a single piece of sheet metal, so folded and bent as to leave no internal ledges for the accumulation of dust and fine ashes.

Other objects will be fully set forth in the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved shovel.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, and

F ig. 4 is a rear elevation.

Fig. 5 is a plan of the body blank, showing the form of the same, and also showing by the dotted lines where the bending and folding of the sheet is done to form the finished body.

Similar reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the specification and drawing.

In forming the body of the shovel, a sheet of metal. of suitable thickness is cut into the shape shown in Fig. 5, to form the bottom 1, the sides 2, 3, the rear end 4:, and the corner folds 5, 6. The two sides 2, 8, are provided with the triangular extensions 7, 8 at their forward ends, and having the apertures 9, 10 at the outer corners. The bottom 1 has the series of cross slots 11, all of which extend slightly into each of the sides 2, 3 as shown. When thus blanked out, the sheet is scored and bent along the dotted lines 12, 13, 14, to form a box-like structure, and the corners 5, 6 are folded around upon the outside of the end 4. The handle 15, with its bifurcated lower ends 16, 17 is then riveted in place, with the lower rivets 18, 19 passing through the corners of the folds 5, 6 and end. 4, so as to make the body very rigid.

As a closure for the forward end of the shovel, I provide a door 20, having the trunnions 21, 22 at its upper corners as shown, which enter the apertures 9, 10 in the triangular extensions 7, 8, so that the door may freely swing between the forward ends of the sides 2, 3. The door is divided vertically at its middle by the two slots 23, 24: which extend from the top and bottom edges, leaving a middle connecting piece, from which the rod 25 leads to an aperture in the handle as at 26, which its hooked end '27 enters, and so lock the door in closed position. are provided inthe handle, so that the hooked end may be inserted therein, to lock the door either in forward or rearward positions, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The door may be iven a complete revolution by the rod to eject any dust or ashes which may accumulate upon the front edge of the shovel.

The strips of metal between the slots 11 are longitudinally corrugated to give them a flattened inverted V-shape in cross-section, so that when the shovel is given a rapid longitudinal agitation, the contents thereof will ride over the corrugations with the result that the fine dust and ashes are quickly separated.

The door 20 may be made of sheet metal in two separate parts which are secured together by a strip of metal riveted thereto, said strip being bent into a somewhat fiattened V-shape, with its ends forming the trunnions 21, 22 and its middle 20' serving as the connecting piece, to which the rod 25 is attached; or the door may be made of cast metal, with the trunnions and connecting piece all made integral, and serving as a strengthening bead for the door.

While I have shown what I consider as the best form in which to construct my improved shovel, yet I do not wish it understood to be the only form in which it can be made; other methods of forming the box will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art which will still come within the scope of my Other apertures 28, 2.9

invention, and I desire to coverall such forms in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In an ash sifting shovel, the combination of a box-like body having two sides, a rear end and a transversely slotted bottom formed from a single sheet of metal, with .a forward end closure pivoted to upward extensions from said sides,- and means for swinging said closure either forwardly or rearwardly to open the forward end oi said body or completely revolving said closureto eject the contents of-said body.

2. In an ash sifting shovel, the combination of a box-like body having sides, a rear end, and a transversely corrugated and slotted bottom, with a forward end closure pivoted to upward extensions from said sides, and a rodpivotally connected tothe middle of said closure forswinging the-same forwardly and thereby open the forward end of said body or revolving upon its pivots to ejectthe contents of said body.

3. In an ash sifting shovel, the combination of a box-like body, a handle rigidly secured to the rear end of said body, said handle having a plurality of apertures therethrough, aswinging idoor topermit a complete revolution thereof pivoted .to upward extensions from the sides of said body, and a rod .pivotally secured to the middle point of body, a rod pivotally connected to the middle point of said door forgiving said door a complete revolution upon its pivots, and means for locking the free end of said rod to said handle with said door in either open or closed position.

'5. In an ashsifting shovel, the combination of a box-like sheet metal body having a transversely slotted bottom, a rearwardly extending handle secured to said body, a doorpivotally mounted in the forward end of said body, said door having slots extendingrespectively from the middle of the top and bottom to a point midway therebetween, and a rod pivotally mounted upon said door between the adjacent ends of said slots, whereby said door maybe caused to make a complete revolutionrto eject the contents of said body.

PETER JOHN MGCULLOCH. 

